Audra McDonald

It's not saying, oh, we have to kind of make believe that there were black people performing in vaudeville at this time. We have to kind of make believe that there were black people in Seattle. There were black people who ended up becoming strippers or any of that. We don't have to make believe. It actually happened. It actually existed. And so it's embodied.

It's not saying, oh, we have to kind of make believe that there were black people performing in vaudeville at this time. We have to kind of make believe that there were black people in Seattle. There were black people who ended up becoming strippers or any of that. We don't have to make believe. It actually happened. It actually existed. And so it's embodied.

But I will say we're not changing a single solitary line in the show. Not a single solitary one. There's no need. And some of them actually exist. hit in a different way. Really? When you think about some of the lines coming out of a black woman, they hit in a different way in 2024.

But I will say we're not changing a single solitary line in the show. Not a single solitary one. There's no need. And some of them actually exist. hit in a different way. Really? When you think about some of the lines coming out of a black woman, they hit in a different way in 2024.

But I will say we're not changing a single solitary line in the show. Not a single solitary one. There's no need. And some of them actually exist. hit in a different way. Really? When you think about some of the lines coming out of a black woman, they hit in a different way in 2024.

Square sort of things that don't historically maybe line up in a literal way It's a musical fable That's all I got I have a lot more but that's all I'll say it's a musical fable. It's a fable How do you square that people just burst into song? Look, I mean, I have dealt with this my entire career.

Square sort of things that don't historically maybe line up in a literal way It's a musical fable That's all I got I have a lot more but that's all I'll say it's a musical fable. It's a fable How do you square that people just burst into song? Look, I mean, I have dealt with this my entire career.

Square sort of things that don't historically maybe line up in a literal way It's a musical fable That's all I got I have a lot more but that's all I'll say it's a musical fable. It's a fable How do you square that people just burst into song? Look, I mean, I have dealt with this my entire career.

You know, people upset with me for, you know, that I was playing Carrie in Carousel saying, well, she wouldn't have been black. There's a man who comes down from heaven with a star in his hand. People who are going to want to come and see the show and take the journey with us can take the journey. Those who want to intellectualize and make it about something else, they can do that too.

You know, people upset with me for, you know, that I was playing Carrie in Carousel saying, well, she wouldn't have been black. There's a man who comes down from heaven with a star in his hand. People who are going to want to come and see the show and take the journey with us can take the journey. Those who want to intellectualize and make it about something else, they can do that too.

You know, people upset with me for, you know, that I was playing Carrie in Carousel saying, well, she wouldn't have been black. There's a man who comes down from heaven with a star in his hand. People who are going to want to come and see the show and take the journey with us can take the journey. Those who want to intellectualize and make it about something else, they can do that too.

But that's what we're doing. We're telling the story. Amen.

But that's what we're doing. We're telling the story. Amen.

But that's what we're doing. We're telling the story. Amen.

Yeah, I had gone to Juilliard because I was from Fresno and I wanted to be on Broadway. I've known that I wanted to be on Broadway since I was nine and I moved there. to New York and I went to Juilliard because they accepted me. But I auditioned in the vocal department instead of in the acting department. It was probably what I should have done.

Yeah, I had gone to Juilliard because I was from Fresno and I wanted to be on Broadway. I've known that I wanted to be on Broadway since I was nine and I moved there. to New York and I went to Juilliard because they accepted me. But I auditioned in the vocal department instead of in the acting department. It was probably what I should have done.

Yeah, I had gone to Juilliard because I was from Fresno and I wanted to be on Broadway. I've known that I wanted to be on Broadway since I was nine and I moved there. to New York and I went to Juilliard because they accepted me. But I auditioned in the vocal department instead of in the acting department. It was probably what I should have done.

But I just thought, well, I have a strong voice so I'll do that. And so what I underestimated was how much I would be shoved in the classical direction vocally. And I wasn't really given the opportunity to take acting lessons, to take movement or, you know, diction like all the other acting students at Juilliard were doing. You know, people like, actually, I was in school with Viola Davis.

But I just thought, well, I have a strong voice so I'll do that. And so what I underestimated was how much I would be shoved in the classical direction vocally. And I wasn't really given the opportunity to take acting lessons, to take movement or, you know, diction like all the other acting students at Juilliard were doing. You know, people like, actually, I was in school with Viola Davis.

But I just thought, well, I have a strong voice so I'll do that. And so what I underestimated was how much I would be shoved in the classical direction vocally. And I wasn't really given the opportunity to take acting lessons, to take movement or, you know, diction like all the other acting students at Juilliard were doing. You know, people like, actually, I was in school with Viola Davis.